Britain's Defence Secretary hides from air raid in Ukrainian bunker
Britain's new Defence Secretary John Healey (pictured left) was forced to take cover from a Russian air raid in a bomb shelter during his first official visit to Ukraine. Mr Healey, who promised extra weapons and support for Ukraine immediately after Sir Keir Starmer's Labour government came to power three days ago, dashed for cover from Vladimir Putin's missiles as air raid sirens rang out across Odessa.
On Thursday night, Mr Healey was at sports hall in South Yorkshire celebrating Labour's historic landslide victory which has seen them return to power for the first time in 14 years. But just 72 hours later, the new Defence Secretary was rushed to a bunker, where he pledged to continue backing President Volodymyr Zelensky and Ukraine in their fight against Putin's army.
Mr Healey had been welcomed by counterpart Rustem Umerov (pictured right) when they were alerted to the missile strike threat. Along with Chief of Defence Staff Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, they were scrambled to the basement of a Soviet-era building acting as Mr Umerov's temporary base, The Sun reports.
Mr Healy has directed officials to fast-track a package of support that was pledged last April by the previous government. He has promised desperate Ukraine forces that the much needed help will be delivered within the next 100 days.
The package includes more artillery and 90 Brimstone missiles on top of more than £7.6 billion of military assistance sent to Ukraine since Russia 's full-scale invasion in 2022. The announcements came after Foreign Secretary David Lammy (pictured) said UK military, economic, political and diplomatic support for Ukraine will 'remain ironclad' under the Labour Government.
Mr Healey said: 'As the new Defence Secretary, I will ensure that we reinvigorate Britain's support by stepping up supplies of vital military aid. Our commitment to stand with the Ukrainian people is absolute, as is our resolve to confront Russian aggression and pursue Putin for his war crimes. This Government is steadfast in our commitment to continue supplying military assistance and will stand shoulder to shoulder with our Ukrainian friends for as long as it takes.'
The MoD said the new package of support includes ammunition, 90 Brimstone missiles, 50 small military boats to support river and coastal operations, 40 demining vehicles, 10 AS-90 artillery guns and support for previously gifted ones, and 61 bulldozers to help build defensive positions. The department said the UK's commitment in April included 400 vehicles, 1,600 strike and air defence missiles, 4 million rounds of ammunition and 60 boats, including offshore raiding craft.
Admiral Sir Tony Radakin said: 'The recent milestone of 500,000 Russians killed or wounded is a reminder of how badly this war has gone for Russia. Over the past year, with British help, Ukraine has driven the Russian fleet from Crimea and reopened the Black Sea for exports. 'The battle on land is much tougher but Ukraine's future as a sovereign nation is not in doubt.' He added: 'By continuing to support Ukraine, and by helping to ensure Russia loses, Britain and Europe will be stronger and safer over the long term.'
Mr Healey's visit to Ukraine within 48 hours of taking on the role is likely to be viewed as a signal from the Government about its commitment to supporting Ukraine. Former prime minister Rishi Sunak had claimed during the General Election campaign that multi-year support to Ukraine would be put at risk under Labour.
The UK's commitment to supporting Ukraine contrasts to Hungary's prime minister Viktor Orban who told Volodymyr Zelensky that Ukraine needs to lay down its arms in the war with Russia. Mr Orban – Europe's most pro-Russian leader – made the comments in Kyiv a day after Hungary took over the rotating presidency of the EU. Yesterday Ukraine launched an overnight drone strike on a Russian munitions depot, near the border region of Voronezh, setting it ablaze. Ukraine has stepped up its attacks on Russian territory this year, targeting both energy sites it says supply the Russian army and towns and villages just across the border.
It comes after Russian strikes on Friday night left over 100,000 households without power in northern Ukraine and cut off the water supply to a regional capital, Ukrainian authorities reported Saturday, while civilian casualties rose sharply in the country's embattled east. Russia is continually targeting Ukraine's badly damaged energy infrastructure, resulting in hours of rolling blackouts across the country. Ukrainian officials have warned that the situation may worsen as winter approaches. In the Donetsk region in the east, Russian shelling on Friday and overnight killed 11 civilians and wounded 43, local Gov. Vadym Filashkin reported on Saturday. Five people died in the town of Selydove southeast of Pokrovsk, the eastern city that has emerged as a front-line hotspot.
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